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as to which of the two men was the father of her child, andhas since died.During her last illness, she said that she always thought

that the child must be the child of A, as she had once beforemiscarried by him, and had great affection for him, and herfeelings made her think it was his; but that she did not know,as the time was beyond nine calendar months, (she entertain-ing the opinion that a woman could not go beyond ninecalendar months.)These circumstances have now become known to both A

and B, and both refuse to maintain the child. A contends,that as the woman was not delivered until nine months andthree days after connexion with him, it is physically impos-sible the child can be his. B contends that that has nothingto do with it; that 280 days, and not nine months at all, is theperiod of gestation; and that the child, being born at 279 daysafter connexion with A, and only at 271 days after connexionwith B, the probabilities were, that the child was the child ofA, particularly coupled with the fact, that the woman hadonce before miscarried by A, and that she had stated, duringher last illness, that her feelings told her it was the child of A.There is no perceptible likeness of either of the men in the

child, but a marked likeness of the mother.Either of the men would maintain the child if lie could be

satisfied he was the father of it; and in the hope that you oryour correspondents will kindly give such information uponthe subiect that mav satisfv one of them. I remain. Sir. vourconstant reader, GILBERT SMITH.Lonaon, rea. 1847. _

Medícal News.APOTHECARIES’ HALL.—Names of Gentlemen who passed

their Examination, and received Certificates to Practise, onThursday, March 4th, 1847:-Peter Brady; Thomas Orton,Rothwell; William Cumming; Edmund John Burman, Ban-stead, Surrey; James Graham, Liverpool.MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS.—Dr. R. F. Lindoe has been elected

physician to the Eastern Dispensary, Bath, in the room of Dr.Tarleton, resigned.DEPUTATION To SIR. GEORGE GREY.—We are authorized to

state, that a deputation from the Council of the ProvincialMedical and Surgical Association, has had an interview withthe Right Hon. Sir George Grey, and that from the result ofthis interview, strong hopes are entertained that a settlementof the questions connected with medical reform, satisfactoryto all branches of the profession, may be obtained. Thesehopes are, however, dependent upon some approach to una-nimity, in the concession of minor points, being manifested bythe different sections of the profession.-Provincial Medicaland Surgical Journal.The Medical Society of London held its seventy-fourth

anniversary at the Albion Tavern, Aldersgate-street, on the8th inst.,-the President, W. C. Dendy, Esq., in the Chair.The ballot was declared to be as follows:-President: W. C.Dendy, Esq.—Vice-presidents: Theophilus Thompson, iNI.D.;John Bishop, Esq.; H. Clutterbuck, M.D.; John Hilton, F.R.S.— Treasurer: Nathaniel.Clifton, Esq.-Librarian: W. H. Will-shire, M.D.-Honorary S’ecretaries: James F. Clarke, Esq.;W. Smiles, M.D.—Secretary for Foreign Correspondence: Thos.Davidson, M.D.—Councillors: W. Eales, Esq.; F. Hutchinson,Esq.; E. H. Linnecar, Esq.; James Middleton, Esq.; GeorgePilcher, Esq.; G. Owen Itees, M.D., F.R.S.; C. J. Roberts,M.D.; Silas Stedman, Esq.; J. C. Taunton, Esq.; ForbesWinslow, M.D.; A. B. Garrod, M.D.; Frederick Bird, M.D.;Henry Oldham, M.D.; Richard Rowland, M.D.; Golding Bird,M.D., F.R.S.; Edward Headland, Esq.; W.D.Chowne.M.D.;W. A. Harrison, Esq.; W. Kingdon, Esq.; Henry Hancock,Esq. Fellow to deliver the Oration, 1848, Francis Hird, Esq.Dr. Golding Bird then delivered the Oration, which will befound in another page. The Forthergillian Gold Medal wasthen awarded to Silas Stedman, Esq., for an Essay on Insanity.The First Silver Medal to W. A. Harrison, Esq., of Keppel-street, on his retirement from the office of Secretary, forgeneral services rendered to the Society ; and the SecondSilver Medal to D. M. Hughes, of Guy’s Hospital, for a paper.read before the Society, on Chest Disease, and published inTHE LANCET. The award of the Medals was accompanied bya very appropriate speech to each of the recipients, by thePresident. The fellows and their friends afterwards partookof a sumptuous dinner, and good fellowship and convivialitywere kept up to a late hour. The dinner party consisted of agreater number than usual.

MEDICAL CERTIFICATES OF INSANITY.—Amongst the improve-ments recently made at Bethlem Hospital, one was a newform of certificate respecting the insanity of patients applyingfor admission, in which the exact qualification of the prac-titioner signing must now be stated before it is received, andthen only if the party belongs to one of the medical corpora-tions of England, or is a graduate of a British university, andentitled to practise. It is reported that the new system workswell, and so far from difficulties being encountered, the pro-fession have uniformly aided the authorities by adopting theplan recommended; and as Bethlem Hospital is not underthe jurisdiction of the Commissioners in Lunacy, and onlyone certificate of insanity is required at this institution,instead of two, as in ordinary cases, it became more neces-sary to obtain such a document from a legally-qualified prac-titioner, so that no lunatic might be improperly confined.In illustration of the advantages of this change, and the wayin which it operates, we may mention, that very recently acertificate attest,ing the insanity of a person sent for admission,which bore the signature of a graduate of a foreign university,was refused, and the patient not admitted, until another cer-tificate, signed by a member of an English medical corpora-tion, was presented and approved. This proceeding is worthyof imitation; and if all public bodies, as well as private indi-vicluals, would act upon the same principle, and employ nonebut properly qualified medical men, there would be fewercoroner’s inquests reported in the newspapers; whilst quackerywould be a less profitable trade than it has hitherto provedthroughout the British empire.

OBITUARY.—February 26th, aged fifty-eight, of angina pec-toris, George G. Bompas, Esq., M.D., of Fishponds, Bristol,long a member of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Asso-ciation, and President-Elect of the Bath and Bristol Branch.Dr. Bompas was possessed of considerable scientific attain-ments, especially in his own branch of the profession-therelief of mental disease. He was of mild and amiable deport-ment, a model of the Christian gentleman, and all his actionswere influenced by a .feeling of deep responsibility. Thesecharacteristics were especially manifested in the performanceof his professional duties, and although not an implicit followerof what is called the non-restraint system, his judicious andgentle management of the patients entrusted to his care effected.the successful restoration of the mental powers in a very re-markable degree.

CORRESPONDENTS.Mr. King’s paper shall appear in an early number; a press of contributions

has prevented its insertion earlier.S. C. should address a letter of inquiry to the secretary of the Hanv, ell

Asylum.A Constant Reader.-B should have been the special witness to the facts

of the post-mortem examination, as the ordinary melical attendant; theexamination of C, D, must depend on the judgment of the coroner.A General Practitioner.—The queries shall be answered in our next.A Constant Reader from the first may depend that we shall not grow

weary of exposing quackery: we hope his own shoulder is at the wheel.We are obliged to him for his awakening note.

Medicus.—We believe not.Dr. Orpen.—The circular enclosed certainly substantiates entirely the

assertions of Dr. Orpen. It appears that the governors of the Birkenhead

Hospital and Dispensary have provided that no physician shall hold anyoffice in their institution. Such an interference with ordinary professionalusages is highly impertinent and improper. Query: Would these governors,if ill, refuse, in a medical case, the consultation of a physician? Let them

do for the poor as, we doubt not, they would be quite ready to do for them-selves.

A Very Old Subscriber.-The surgeon could not recover in an action atlaw, in such a case, unless he had an agreement with the party properlydrawn in writing.

A. B. C.-In reply to question No. 1, we should say that all are about ofequal value in England. No. 2. They are all recognised by the College ofPhysicians, London. No. 3. The examinations only occupy one day.No. 4. The examinations for the greater part are ’Viva voce.

I. O. U.—The fee might certainly be taken with propriety.Dr. Radford’s valuable paper on uterine hæmorrhage shall appear in our

next.

Communications have been received from-Mr. Roger S. Munn, (Col-chester ;) Mr. T. Wilkinson King; Mr. Semple; Dr. Ormerod; S. C.; AConstant Reader; Mr. E. B. Neil; A General Practitioner; M. H. H.;Spectator; Dr. Allnatt; Medicus; A Constant Reader from the first; Mr.Prior; Mr. J. A. Dorr; Mr. Gossett; Dr. R. G. Mayne ; An Anxious In-quirer ; Mr. Edward Daniel, (Newport Pagnell;) Somebody; Dr. T. W. J.Mernman; Cephas; Mr. Reginald Orton; Dr. Orpen. (Birkenhead;) Mr.John Wood ; Mr. Burnett; Mr. McEvoy ; Dr. Burrows ; Dr. Wickstead; Mr. T. Willan ; Mr. Adny; Messrs. Deighton and Co., Worcester, (withthe engravings;) Mr. Anderson, (Bellinghay j) Calligium; Dr. Radford,Manchester.) .)